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really noisy bathroom fans?

13 years ago

Does anyone know of a "white noise" type really noisy bathroom vent fan? We have a fairly noisy one in our powder room, unfortunately it buffers the occupant from outside noises far more than it masks noises from inside. Those in other rooms hear an uncomfortable amount of noise from the powder room while the occupant thinks no noise is going through.... Who has a fan that keeps sounds in? Or blasts enough fan noise out that you don't hear the sounds that you don't want to hear even if your powder room is right next to your family room?

Sorry if this falls into the Too Much Info catagory, but where else can I ask this question?

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Comments (4)

User
13 years ago
CindalouTX, that is a very important concern. I'm reminded of the time years ago when my (now-x) hubby was cutting the grass and was cussing every step, and very loud about it. His voice carried clearly all over the neighborhood but he never realized it. Potentially one of life's most embarrassing moments.

Sound has some strange quirks. It is possible that you could wire the light switch to also turn on a fan out in the hallway and that would create the white noise you seek.
Whether such a move works or not, set a small fan on a table outside the bath and check its masking properties.

If you find a first class solution to this dilemma, please share it with us. I'll try to keep up with this thread.
:)
jacobse
13 years ago
It seems to me that forum readers periodically post about wanting to replace their old, noisy bathroom fans with a new, quiet one -- so all you have to do is wait and pounce on someone getting rid of their old noisy fan! And it'll probably only cost you a few bucks for shipping! ;)

Seriously, though, I'm not sure why you would want a noisy fan or white noise in the bathroom, when you say the problem is that people outside the room hear the bathroom noises coming form within. A noisy fan would just re-create the situation you have now: the bathroom occupants think their noises are masked by the fan noise, but outside the room, people hear everything. I'd think if you had a quiet fan in the bathroom, you'd at least remove that mask, and the bathroom occupants might be more aware of the amount of noise they're making.

If, on the other hand, you're asking about a bathroom fan which is so powerful it sucks up all noise, like a black hole absorbs light, then that would be pretty cool -- but I don't think any such thing exists. Fans can't keep noise in; only better walls can door can do that. Perhaps you could do the wals and ceiling with carpet to absorb the noise? ;)

-- Eric
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auzzy
13 years ago
Here's a cheap solution I use in my powder room, which is also off the family room. If anyone else is in the house, I turn the faucets on when I use the toilet! Don't we all do that when we think we might be overheard (LOL).
cindaloutx
Original Author
13 years ago
Ah yes, the faucet trick. Turns out the Japanese are way ahead of me here, although this device doesn't show up on Toto's US website.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sound Princess by Toto

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